Experimental testicular torsion: fixation without parenchymal trauma.

Acute testicular torsion has been investigated using experimental models which either do not mimic torsion or cause parenchymal trauma. Valid conclusions regarding possible immunological activation cannot be made from such models. Techniques for experimental torsion in the rat are compared in this study to a standard venous occlusion model. Vascular dye injections and gross assessment were made at 0, 1 and 12 h. Testicular torsion of 720 degrees with fixation by a transmesorchial suture was the model which produced changes most similar to those in the venous occlusion model. This model causes torsion without parenchymal trauma and mimics acute testicular torsion more accurately than previously existing models.